The patter songs of Gilbert & Sullivan in one panic-stricken night.When the D’Oyly Carte Opera was at its zenith, it ran two companies which both toured the country for 48 weeks a year, performing all the hits of the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire. Each company had its comedy baritone lead who performed all ten of the “patter roles”, and each patter man had an understudy – who also had to keep all ten roles, and their wordy patter songs, in his head. On a rainy night in a town in the North of England, the understudy is given a day’s notice that he is ‘on’. A sleepless night ensues, and in the dingy bedroom of his theatrical digs, he tries to rehearse his role – helped, but more often hindered, by one of the other residents of the house – an itinerant variety performer. As the night progresses their discussions take on a more disturbing tone, as the understudy’s rehearsal begins to turn into a true nightmare. SIMON BUTTERISS, one of the country’s leading exponent of the ‘patter roles’ is joined by JEFF CLARKE, artistic director of the renowned Opera della Luna company, as his musical adversary, in this new music-theatre piece, which contains most of the G&S patter songs, as well as a new score of challenging complexity and humour. There are laughs a-plenty in this fast-paced hour and a half of mayhem… If Nightmare Songs comes your way, go and see it. Like the items on Ko-Ko's little list this really mustn't be missed’ Oxford Times Nighmare songs will be at Wyeside for one night only on Thursday 15th November at 7.30pm Tickets cost £9 in advance, £11 on the day and £5 for 18’s and under. You can now book online at www.wyeside.co.uk or call on 01982 552555 (12 noon – 4pm/5.30pm - 9pm Tuesday – Friday; 5.30pm – 9pm Saturday & 5pm – 8pm Sunday |
| wyeside arts centre web site: www.wyeside.co.uk |
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Tuesday, October 23, 2007 |
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